[0001] The present invention relates to devices for packaging a lipstick or other product
in the form of a stick.
Prior art
[0002] Devices for packaging a lipstick conventionally have a lipstick distributor mechanism
having a proximal part and a rotary distal part, this mechanism being configured such
that the rotary movement of the distal part with respect to the proximal part is accompanied
by an axial movement of the stick relative to the proximal part, and a case in which
said mechanism can be fitted and secured.
[0003] The cases found on the market are usually made of plastics material and are not generally
intended to be reused.
Disclosure of the invention
[0005] There is a need to benefit from a device for packaging and applying a lipstick that
encourages the user to keep the case in order to reuse it for a new mechanism once
the stick has been used up, while being attractive to the consumer.
[0006] The invention meets this need by way of a device for packaging a cosmetic product
in the form of a stick, in particular a lipstick, having:
- a distributor mechanism, having a proximal part and a rotary distal part, configured
such that the rotary movement of the distal part with respect to the proximal part
is accompanied by an axial movement of the stick relative to the proximal part,
- a case having a body made of mineral glass, in which said mechanism can be fitted
and secured.
[0007] The use of mineral glass provides durability, and makes it possible to reuse the
case without fear of deterioration of its aesthetic appearance, since glass is a material
which is difficult to scratch.
[0008] Moreover, the case can be cleaned easily, where appropriate.
[0009] On account of its weight, the case also provides stability in a vertical position,
thereby making it possible to store it vertically with other products or accessories.
[0010] The case also makes it possible, when the body is transparent, to see the colour
of the stick through the case, without it being necessary to remove the case, thereby
saving the user time when they need to choose between several products.
[0011] Glass also provides effective protection against UV rays, lateral and axial mechanical
pressures, and provides the case with a pleasant cold feel.
[0012] The case can be made with exterior dimensions that make it compatible for use on
existing display stands.
[0013] The mechanism is known per se and includes any system for converting the rotary movement
into an axial movement. Numerous mechanisms are provided on the market. Examples of
mechanisms, among others, are described in the patents
US3333689 and
US7144171.
[0014] Preferably, the glass body has a neck and the case has a ring made of thermoplastic
material which is attached and secured to the neck and to which said mechanism is
secured. Such a ring makes it possible to manufacture the body with fairly large manufacturing
tolerances, while allowing precise mounting of the mechanism on the case.
[0015] The ring may have at least two securing tabs on the neck, better still four.
[0016] The neck may have at least one positioning relief forming a protrusion on its outer
surface, in particular in the form of a tooth, and at least one of the securing tabs
of the ring may have a recess for receiving said relief.
[0017] At least some of the securing tabs have, on a radially inner face, a snap-fastening
tooth, said recess being formed by an interruption in the tooth. The neck may have
two diametrically opposite positioning reliefs, two of the securing tabs of the ring
having corresponding recesses.
[0018] The case preferably has a cover, also referred to as a "cup", which is in particular
metallic and designed to be secured to said ring. This cover contributes to the appearance
of the case and may also have a function of retaining the ring.
[0019] The cover can be secured in various ways.
[0020] The securing tabs may have, on their outer face, ribs for retaining the cover, against
which the cover bears. The cover may make it possible, by bearing on the tabs, to
keep the latter on the neck, thereby making it more difficult to accidentally detach
the ring.
[0021] The ring may also have at least one relief which is designed to be snap-fastened
with at least one corresponding relief of the cover. For example, the tabs of the
ring have at least one protruding relief and the skirt of the cover has at least one
relief defining at least one housing in which this protruding relief is received;
in one example, the skirt of the cover has an end part that is folded on itself next
to the inner surface of the cover, in order to define, above this fold, said housing
for receiving the relief on the ring. The skirt of the cover may have, above the fold,
a shoulder which comes to bear axially against said relief. This should forms, with
the fold, the abovementioned housing for receiving the relief. The latter may be formed
by a rib moulded in one piece with each tab of the ring. A chamfer may extend below
the rib, so as to form a space for accommodating the fold.
[0022] The lip of the ring may be completely flat and rest on the top of the annular part
of the ring, which may also be flat. In this case, the radially inner edge of the
lip of the cover may be at a small distance (for example less than 1 mm measured in
the radial direction) from the radially inner edge of the annular part of the ring.
[0023] The ring may also have, on its upper surface, a positioning ring that forms an upward
protrusion, and the cover may bear, with a radially inner edge, substantially against
this rib. Such a rib, situated preferably close to the radially inner edge of the
annular part of the ring, improves the centring of the cover on the ring. The fact
that the lower edge of the lip of the cover is thus set back from the opening brings
about ease of assembly, snap-fastening and centring.
[0024] Where appropriate, the positioning rib and the cover have mutual bearing edges that
are bevelled in a complementary manner; the positioning rib may in particular have
an upwardly and outwardly inclined edge, such that the bearing of the cover on the
groove tends to axially retain the edge of the cover against the annular part of the
ring. In addition, in this way, the mechanism is allowed to come axially into abutment
against the cover before coming into abutment against the ring, this being advantageous
when the cover is metallic.
[0025] The lip of the cover may have, close to its radially inner edge, an inwardly and
downwardly inclined part; this part may advantageous come to bear against the abovementioned
positioning rib. Such an inclined part may keep the lip of the cover spaced apart
from the annular part of the rib, except for in a contact zone of the lip of the cover
with the ring; this contact zone may be defined by a lower edge corner of the inclined
part; the latter may come into contact with the positioning rib by way of an upper
edge corner. Such limited contact between the cover and the ring makes assembly easier.
[0026] The mechanism may have a base, in particular a metallic base, in which the proximal
part is received, this base being designed to be snap-fastened on the case. The base
may have a tubular skirt provided with securing reliefs designed to be snap-fastened
to the ring.
[0027] These securing reliefs may be in the form of bosses, the snap-fastening taking place
preferably on a radially inner circular edge of the ring.
[0028] The glass body is preferably transparent. The body may be made from recycled glass,
or glass comprising a certain proportion of recycled glass, for example at least 20%.
[0029] A further subject of the invention is an assembly having at least one device according
to the invention and a refill mechanism. The two can be packaged together, where appropriate.
The refill mechanism may also be packaged separately.
[0030] The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description
of a non-limiting implementation example thereof and from studying the appended drawing,
in which
Brief description of the drawings
[0031]
[Fig 1] Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a device
according to the invention,
[Fig 2] Figure 2 shows the base of the mechanism,
[Fig 3] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device,
[Fig 4] Figure 4 shows the neck of the glass body of the case,
[Fig 5] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the ring, on its own,
[Fig 6] Figure 6 shows the ring from Figure 5 at a different viewing angle,
[Fig 7] Figure 7 shows the ring provided with the cover,
[Fig 8] Figure 8 illustrates the mounting of the ring on the neck,
[Fig 9] Figure 9 is an axial, schematic and partial cross section through the device
in the closed configuration,
[Fig 10] Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 in a different section plane,
[Fig 11] Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment variant of the ring and of the cover,
[Fig 12] Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 of another embodiment variant, and
[Fig 13] Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 11 of another embodiment variant.
Detailed description
[0032] Figure 1 illustrates a packaging device 1 according to the invention, having a lipstick
mechanism 2 and a case 3 to which the mechanism can be secured when not being used
to apply the lipstick.
[0033] In a conventional way, as can be seen in Figure 3, the mechanism 2 has a proximal
part 25 and a rotary distal part 22, which can rotate with respect to the proximal
part 25 in order to axially move a stick-holder cup, which is not visible here.
[0034] The proximal part 25 is received in a base 21, visible in Figure 2, for example a
metallic base, being for example force-fitted therein and/or snap-fastened therein
or the like.
[0035] The proximal part 25 may be provided with a rotation-prevention relief 29 at its
end, as illustrated.
[0036] The base 21 has a gripping part of larger diameter, provided for example with a surface
grid as illustrated, and a tubular mounting skirt 22 provided with bosses 23, for
example three bosses, distributed evenly at 120° from one another about the longitudinal
axis of the mechanism. The outside diameter of the skirt 23 is for example less than
or equal to 15 mm, being for example around 14.5 mm.
[0037] The base 21 cooperates with the relief 29 such that the proximal part cannot rotation
with respect to the base 21.
[0038] The case 3 has a body 31 made of, for example transparent, mineral glass having,
as illustrated in Figure 4, a neck 32 at its upper end, on which a ring 40 made of
thermoplastic material, covered with a metallic cover 50, is secured. The body 31
is closed at its lower end by a flat bottom.
[0039] The neck 32 has a collar forming a radially outward protrusion, which defines, around
the neck 32, a groove 33 into which two diametrically opposite positioning reliefs
34 in the form of teeth protrude, only one of these reliefs 34 being visible in Figure
4.
[0040] The body 31 has, for example, below the shoulder at the base of the neck 32, an external
cross section that is square with rounded corners.
[0041] With reference more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, it is apparent that the ring
40 has four securing tabs 41 that are connected at the top to an annular part 42.
[0042] The external contour of this annular part 42 is substantially square with rounded
corners, and each tab 41 is situated at a corner.
[0043] Each tab 41 has, on is radially outer face, a series of parallel ribs 44 extending
in respective planes that are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of
the case, and, on its radially inner face, a snap-fastening tooth 45.
[0044] The teeth 45 of two diametrically opposite tabs 41 are interrupted so as to define
recesses 46 for the engagement therein of the positioning reliefs 34 on the neck 32,
as illustrated in Figure 8. These reliefs 34, once they are engaged in the recesses
46, prevent the ring 40 from rotating relative to the neck 32.
[0045] Slots 48 are provided through the annular part 42, for the passage of a mould for
moulding the teeth 45 during the manufacture of the ring 40 by injection moulding.
[0046] The cover 50 has an outer skirt 51 which bears on the ribs 44 of the tabs 41, ensuring
the retention thereof.
[0047] To assemble the case 3, the ring 40 can be snap-fastened on the neck 32, then the
cover 50 is engaged on said ring 40. In a variant, the ring 40 is disposed in the
cover 50 in order to form an assembly as illustrated in Figure 7, and then the latter
is snap-fastened on the neck 32.
[0048] The annular part 42 of the ring 40 defines a circular opening 47, the diameter of
which is slightly greater than that of the securing skirt 23 of the base 21. Thus,
the securing skirt 23 can be snap-fastened by means of the bosses 24 on the edge of
this opening 37, as illustrated in Figure 10.
[0049] In the variant illustrated in Figure 11, the annular part of the ring has an annular
positioning rib 60, which borders the opening 47. This rib 60 is formed by injection-moulding
with the rest of the ring 40. It may have a radially outer flank 61 which is inclined
slightly outward and upward.
[0050] The cover 50 has a lip 55 which extends as far as the flank 61. This lip is, for
example, formed as one with the rest of the cover 50. It may have a radially inner
edge 56 which is slightly bevelled, with the same inclination as the flank 61, such
that the two have complementary shapes allowing one edge to be fitted in the other.
[0051] The thickness t of the rib 60 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the device
is preferably, as illustrated, substantially equal to the thickness of the lip 55.
[0052] The upper face 57 of the lip 55 may be situated slightly higher up than the upper
face of the rib 60, as illustrated.
[0053] In the variant shown in Figure 12, the lip 55 of the cover 50 has a flat annular
part 57, oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the device, which is
continued by a downwardly and inwardly inclined end part 58.
[0054] The end part 58 may rest, as illustrated, with one edge corner 58a against the annular
rib 60 and with another edge corner 58b against the top of the annular part of the
ring about the rib 60.
[0055] Illustrated in Figure 13 is the possibility of realizing the retention of the cover
50 by the ring 40 in some other way than by friction by means of the ribs 44.
[0056] In this example, the tabs 41 each have, in the vicinity of their lower edge, a retaining
rib 70. Each tab 41 has a chamfer 72 under this rib 70.
[0057] The outer skirt 51 of the cover 50 may have a thinner lower part 78, which is folded
on itself inwardly at its lower end so as to define a fold 75 that is positioned under
the rib 70 in order to keep the cover 50 on the ring 40.
[0058] The junction between the lower part 78 and the rest of the cover 50 may define a
shoulder 79 which comes to bear axially against the rib 70.
[0059] In this example, as illustrated, the upper face of the ring 40 may be flat, and the
lip 55 of the cover comes to bear, with its lower face 55a, against the top of the
ring.
[0060] During the mounting of the cover 50 on the ring 40, the rib 70 fits in a groove formed
between the fold 75 and the shoulder 79, ensuring that the cover 50 is coupled to
the ring 40.
[0061] The presence of the chamfer 72 frees up a space under the rib 70, which makes it
possible to accommodate the fold 75.
[0062] The tabs 41 of the ring 40 bearing on the outer skirt of the cover 50 above the rib
70 may have an overthickness 80 in order to achieve the radial clamping desired between
the cover 50 and the ring 40. The cover 50 may come to bear, as illustrated, with
its lower end 51b against a shoulder 38 of the body 31, at the base of the neck 32.
[0063] To use the mechanism 2, the user withdraws it from the case 3; the elasticity of
the plastics material of the ring 40 allows the bosses 24 to pass over the latter.
Next, the user can hold the base 21 between two fingers and rotate the distal part
22 to extend the stick.
[0064] Following use, the mechanism 2 is inserted into the case 3 until the bosses 24 have
been snap-fastened to the ring 40.
[0065] Once the stick has been used up, the user can change the mechanism 2 while keeping
the base 21 and the case 3.
[0066] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.
[0067] For example, the glass body 31 may be produced with a shape exhibiting symmetry of
revolution.
[0068] If necessary, the mechanism 2 is produced without the base 21, and it is the proximal
part that is configured to be secured directly to the ring 40.
[0069] The cover 50 may be made of plastics material.
[0070] The mechanism 2 may be secured to the case 3 with sealing, for example by providing
a flexible seal.
1. Device (1) for packaging a cosmetic product in the form of a stick, in particular
lipstick, having:
- a distributor mechanism (2), having a proximal part (25) and a rotary distal part
(22), configured such that the rotary movement of the distal part with respect to
the proximal part is accompanied by an axial movement of the stick relative to the
proximal part,
the proximal part (25) being received in a base (21),
- a case (3) having a body (31) made of mineral glass, in which said mechanism can
be fitted and secured;
device in which, once the stick has been used up, the user can change the mechanism
(2) while keeping the base (21) and the case (3), the proximal part (25) being provided
with a rotation-prevention relief (29) at its end.
2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the proximal part (25) is received in the base
(21) by being force-fitted therein or the like.
3. Device according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the proximal part (25) is received in the
base (21) by being snap-fastened therein or the like.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (21) is metallic.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (21) has a gripping
part of larger diameter and a tubular mounting skirt (22) provided with bosses (23).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mineral glass of
the body (31) is transparent.
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein he body (31) has an external
cross section that is square with rounded corners.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (31) is closed
at its lower end by a flat bottom.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the case (3) has a metallic
cover.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (3) is made
from recycled glass, or glass comprising a certain proportion of recycled glass, preferably
at least 20%.
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (21) cooperates
with the rotation-prevention relief (29) such that the proximal part cannot rotate
with respect to the base (21).
12. Assembly having at least one device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims
and a refill mechanism (2).